Getting in touch with your green roots

GO APE IN THE TREES
An amazing experience for ages 10+, the Go Ape high-wire forest adventure course of rope bridges, Tarzan Swings and zip slides up to 40ft up in the trees is thrilling and a little frightening - but there's absolutely no need to worry as you are fitted with a climbing harness and given full instructions before you set off trekking from tree to tree high above the forest floor. Check the website for adult/child ratios and height/weight restrictions.
Leeds Castle, Kent; Swinley Forest, Bracknell; Alice Holt, Surrey; Bedgebury Forest, Kent;
Wendover Woods, Bucks. £25, 10-17 years £20. 0870 444 5562 or www.goape.co.uk

WET AND WILD
The London Wetland Centre offers more than just bird-watching in this 100-acre haven. The Discovery Centre has hands-on activities that are educational and fun and the outdoor Explore play area (think Tellytubby land meets an adventure playground) is great fun. Throughout the holidays there are arts and craft activities. Book in for the night time safaris 6.30pm-10.30pm on 13, 19 and 26 Aug -just for ages 8-14, children can spend a night in the wild exploring the animals and the elements. £25, booking essential on 0208 409 4400.
Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth Walk, SW13. £8.95, children 4-16 £4.95 (inc Gift Aid donation). 020 8409 4400 or wwt.org.uk

A SECRET GARDEN
Anyone interested in natural medicine will find Chelsea Physic Garden fascinating - this tranquil haven in a busy city, founded in 1673, continues to research the properties, origins and conservation of over 5,000 species. Children will be fascinated by the carnivorous plants and if they are Harry Potter fans, the mandrake. Open Weds - Sun (and Bank Hols) from 12 noon.
66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3. Adults £7, children £4, under 5s free. Call 020 7352 5646 or visit www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

AN ECO PARK
It's easy to make learning about the environment fun if you take the kids to Gulliver's Eco-Park in Milton Keynes, which combines a theme park - complete with rides, life-size dinosaurs, tree walks and play barn --with an environmental message, dealing with sustainability, healthy eating and recycling. It is next to Gulliver's Land theme park.
Follow signs from J14 of the M1. Entry £7.25, children under 90cm free. Call 01925 444 888 or for more details, visit www.gulliverseco-park.org

ON THE FARM
A day at the farm offers a chance to get back to nature, but many also offer fantastic play facilities, BBQs, horse riding and summer activities.
Bocketts Farm will suit children of a range of ages: llamas, rheas and alpacas, plus goat milking and pig racing. Indoor playbarns, pony rides, outside climbing fort, giant jumping pillow, trampolines, playground, picnic area and restaurant. Not far from J9 of the M25, it is just south of Leatherhead on the A246. Young Street, Fetcham, Surrey KT22 9BS. £7.25, children £6.75, 2yrs £5.50, under twos free. 01372 363764 or www.bockettsfarm.co.uk
Fishers Farm for children from toddlers to pre-teen (ideal ages 2-11) is this year even more exciting with a new Alpine Adventure Cresta toboggan run complete with "doughnuts" and a Summit Plummet with giant elastic bands. There is also a climbing wall, bumper boats, crazy golf, giant pillow and play areas - and of, course, pets and a farm shop. Take the A29 to Billingshurst and then the A272. Newpound Lane, Wisborough Green, West Sussex RH14 0EG. Adults and 13+ £11.75, children 2-12 £10.75. 01403 700063 or www.fishersfarmpark.co.uk
Willows Farm Village has a new indoor playbarn with three big slides, tree house adventure, children's shows, mini-tractors, gold-panning, fun fair, sheep trials, animal maternity wing, amaizeing maze (from 19 Jul)...all that and decent burgers too as well as a farm shop. Just 300m from J22 of the M25. Coursers Road, London Colney, St Albans AL4 0PF. £10.95, children £11.95. 0870 129 9718 or www.willowsfarmvillage.com
Godstone Farm offers the chance to climb in with the lambs and piglets, mini tractor rides, outdoor adventure play area, indoor play barn, three big sandpits and tea room. Just off J6 of the M25. Tilburstow Hill Road, Godstone, Surrey, RH9 8LX. Adults £3, 2-16s £5.85, one yrs £1.50. 01883 742 546 or godstonefarm.co.uk
The Hop Farm in an oast village in 400 acres of Kent countryside has a children's driving school, indoor playbarn and outdoor play area, jumping pillows, mini fairground, pottery and craft centre, animal farm and pets corner and from 26 Jul to 31 Aug summer fun with Barney and friends in the Big Top in a sing-and-dance show.
Kentish Oast Village, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, Kent, TB12 6PY. £12 (£10 in advance), children £11 (£9), family £41 (£33). 01622 872 068 or thehopfarm.co.uk

DOWN TO THE WOODS
Forests and woods make a great day out back to nature but with plenty to do. Try:

Wilderness Wood
In Uckfield East Sussex: 61 acres of peaceful woodland, trails, playground, picnic places, tea room and garden. Adults £3.40, children £2.05, under threes free. Call 01825 830 509 or visit www.wildernesswood.co.uk

Epping Forest
The largest public open space in the London area. Go horse riding on the 50 miles of tracks, cycling or follow one of the six self-guided walks. Take a picnic - but note, no BBQs. Contact the Epping Forest Visitor Centre for more details on 020 8508 0028 or cityoflondon.gov.uk

Burnham Beeches
In Buckinghamshire regarded as one of the finest ancient woodlands in Britain and attracts some 500,000 visitors a year - tranquil and a great place to take the dog. Take the A355 north from the M4. More details on 01753 647358 or www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

AND IF YOU WANT TO GO GREEN... LEAVE THE CAR AT HOME
Save the planet - and save money. Travel by train (any type of ticket including a Travelcard) and take advantage of over 100 2FOR1 offers at top London attractions, theatres and restaurants by visiting www.daysoutguide.co.uk. Buy one get one free attractions include river trips, Chelsea FC Stadium Tours, Madame Tussauds, the London Aquarium and many more.